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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Woods loses key sponsorship deal | Woods loses key sponsorship deal |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| The giant management consultancy firm Accenture has ended its sponsorship of Tiger Woods, saying the golfer is "no longer the right representative". | The giant management consultancy firm Accenture has ended its sponsorship of Tiger Woods, saying the golfer is "no longer the right representative". |
| Woods has been engulfed in a media storm since a disturbance outside his house two weeks ago. He has since admitted being unfaithful to his wife. | Woods has been engulfed in a media storm since a disturbance outside his house two weeks ago. He has since admitted being unfaithful to his wife. |
| Woods is taking an indefinite break from golf to try to save his marriage. | Woods is taking an indefinite break from golf to try to save his marriage. |
| Accenture is the second sponsor to react to the news. Gillette has already said it would cut back Woods' role. | Accenture is the second sponsor to react to the news. Gillette has already said it would cut back Woods' role. |
| "For the past six years, Accenture and Tiger Woods have had a very successful sponsorship arrangement and his achievements on the golf course have been a powerful metaphor for business success in Accenture's advertising," the company said in a statement. | "For the past six years, Accenture and Tiger Woods have had a very successful sponsorship arrangement and his achievements on the golf course have been a powerful metaphor for business success in Accenture's advertising," the company said in a statement. |
| "However, given the circumstances of the last two weeks, after careful consideration and analysis, the company has determined that he is no longer the right representative for its advertising. | "However, given the circumstances of the last two weeks, after careful consideration and analysis, the company has determined that he is no longer the right representative for its advertising. |
| Accenture said that "it wishes only the best for Tiger Woods and his family". | Accenture said that "it wishes only the best for Tiger Woods and his family". |
| "Accenture has made a decision to not continue with their sponsorship. We are disappointed but respect their decision," said Mark Steinberg, Woods' agent. | |
| One analyst said that the problem for advertisers was not only Woods' image, but also the fact that he is not active in the sport at present. | |
| Accenture "had tied everything in their campaign to Tiger Woods," Rick Burton, a professor of sports management at Syracuse University, told the Associated Press. | |
| "If he's not golfing, those ads don't make sense." | |
| Billion dollars | Billion dollars |
| Among his other sponsors, the US phone firm AT&T has said it is "presently evaluating our ongoing relationship" with Woods, but his main sponsor Nike said it was standing firm and offered him its "full support". | Among his other sponsors, the US phone firm AT&T has said it is "presently evaluating our ongoing relationship" with Woods, but his main sponsor Nike said it was standing firm and offered him its "full support". |
| Until the scandal broke, Woods was one of the biggest targets for global corporations. Links with an array of brands - also including Electronic Arts video games, Gatorade drinks, and Tag Heuer watches - have helped him amass a fortune. | |
| The Associated Press says he is believed to be the first sports star to have earned $1bn (£600m). | The Associated Press says he is believed to be the first sports star to have earned $1bn (£600m). |
| You have to wonder about all sorts of things... his state of mind... whether he's thinking of early retirement Peter Alliss Golf commentator | You have to wonder about all sorts of things... his state of mind... whether he's thinking of early retirement Peter Alliss Golf commentator |
| Woods, 33, is considered one of the best golfers of all time and was thought by many experts to be likely to overhaul Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 major championship victories. | Woods, 33, is considered one of the best golfers of all time and was thought by many experts to be likely to overhaul Jack Nicklaus' record of 18 major championship victories. |
| He has won 14 so far, but BBC golf commentator Peter Alliss believes it is possible he will not play again. | He has won 14 so far, but BBC golf commentator Peter Alliss believes it is possible he will not play again. |
| "He's going to have to put up with a lot of nonsense and ridicule and comment for the next 20 to 30 years and it depends how well he tackles that," he said. | "He's going to have to put up with a lot of nonsense and ridicule and comment for the next 20 to 30 years and it depends how well he tackles that," he said. |
| "He's in a very, nasty awkward position of his own making, I'm afraid. | "He's in a very, nasty awkward position of his own making, I'm afraid. |
| "You have to wonder about all sorts of things that we're not privy to - his state of mind, whether he wants to continue, whether he's thinking of early retirement." | "You have to wonder about all sorts of things that we're not privy to - his state of mind, whether he wants to continue, whether he's thinking of early retirement." |
| The storm blew up after Woods crashed his car into a fire hydrant and a tree outside his Florida home at the end of November. | The storm blew up after Woods crashed his car into a fire hydrant and a tree outside his Florida home at the end of November. |
| Rumours of an argument in the Woods household led to media allegations about extra-marital affairs. Lurid headlines have linked him to a string of women. | Rumours of an argument in the Woods household led to media allegations about extra-marital affairs. Lurid headlines have linked him to a string of women. |
| On Friday, Woods admitted for the first time that he had been unfaithful to his wife Elin. | On Friday, Woods admitted for the first time that he had been unfaithful to his wife Elin. |
| "I am deeply aware of the disappointment and hurt that my infidelity has caused to so many people, most of all my wife and children," said Woods in a statement. | "I am deeply aware of the disappointment and hurt that my infidelity has caused to so many people, most of all my wife and children," said Woods in a statement. |